For many people, the idea of a self-sufficient home might seem like something of a fantasy. You might feel that it is basically impossible to get there and that it is something only a very few people can do. But the truth is that you can at least make it so that your home is more and more self-sufficient over time, and this is something that anyone can do if they really want to, whatever kind of a position they might be in.
If you are keen to try and live in a more self-sufficient kind of way, then there are plenty of steps you can take towards that. The important thing to bear in mind is that any of these will make a difference, and you don’t have to do all of them at once, or ever, to get the benefits.
Finding A Water Source
You can’t get by without water, and if you are thinking of living more self-sufficient then this is one of the first things you are going to have to think about. Finding a water source is never easy, but there are things you can do to make sure that you do it more quickly and easily. If you happen to have some land near you where you can look, you might be able to find a natural spring.
That is not as challenging as it sounds, as they are everywhere, and that will be the best way to be able to get hold of your own water. You might then build a well on that area, so that you can pump up water when and as you need it. Be sure to use a well water softener and possibly a filter so that the water is as safe to drink and as delicious as possible.
Providing Energy
You are also going to need energy to power your home. There are many options there for what you can do, and if you are trying to be self-sufficient and green then you will need to think about some of the more environmentally friendly options. A great one is solar power – by simply installing some solar panels on your roof and then waiting for the sun to do its thing, you can often power an entire home that way.
But pay attention to your living situation – you might be somewhere where it makes more sense to try and harness the power of the wind. Or you might just want to install some ground source heat pumps so that you can use water in the ground to heat up your home and cool it. All of this is going to be important to consider, but the main thing is that you find a source of energy which is reliable and self-sufficient.
Grow Your Own Food
It should come as no surprise that you will also need to grow your own food, as that is going to be an essential part of staying healthy and keeping alive. The fact is that it is pretty simple and straightforward to grow your own food, but if you have never done it before then you will find there is something of a learning curve. The first thing is to dig a patch where you will grow it – this needs to be a sunny site but with some shady parts, and in well-drained soil with a balanced pH.
Then you need to think about what you are going to grow. If you are to live off it, it will need to be a wide range of fruit and veg. You need to separate it out into different groups – brassicas, salad vegetables, fruiting trees, root vegetables, and so on – and then rotate where these are each year to keep the ground a happy ecosystem and avoid pests causing too much trouble. With enough care, light and water, you should be able to grow enough veg to feed yourself and your family.
Get Some Animals
If you want, you can also get some animals so that you can become more self-sufficient in that way too. You could at least get some backyard chickens so that you have daily eggs – those being an important part of your diet and a great way to make sure that you are keeping it balanced, all without having to keep an animal in any kind of cruelty. You might also want to think about having a goat for milk, from which you could also produce cheese. With that, you will have plenty to live off.
Kori
Latest posts by Kori (see all)
- Cultivating A Happier Home Environment In 5 Steps - March 1, 2024
